Islam,Terrorism and Jihad (15 Nov 2008 NewAgeIslam.Com)

Unveiling Zakir Naik: Terror cannot be fought with Terror

BY S A H RIZVI

For sometime, I have been reading controversies revolving around Dr Zakir Naik and his purported statements on Prophet Muhammad (SAW), terrorism, Osama bin Laden and Yazid. With little success in medical profession, Naik turned to Islamic research and moulded himself on the likes of Rashad Khalifa and Ahmed Deedat challenging all religion or the belief with his half baked truth and often stage managed shows.

What is the purpose of these debates? I was told by Naik supporters that many non believers were coming in the Islamic fold after hearing these so called `enlightened’ debates. I asked for statistics; there were none. I am sure by scoring a brownie point in a debate which Naik forcefully try to do so can cause such a conversion. As such Naik has never impressed me.

I have never seen Naik discussing critical issues in Quran with the leading clergy in Islam or the Qaris who too have memorized Quran by heart. His audience largely includes those people who do not understand the scripture and are generally swayed by his photographic memory of the Quranic verses.

Extended logic is the domain with which people like him function. On Osama, Naik says ‘if he is terrorising USA, he is with him’ `Then all Muslims should be terrorist’ are the adages he uses to pollute the mind and the image of Islam, the religion of peace.

One may ask why he is justifying terrorism. If US is indulging in terrorism, why attack its innocent people who more than often have come out in support of freedom and peace. If all Muslim become terrorists, then what is the difference with the US as he alleges?

Extended Logic

Dr Naik, don’t fool people with these extended logics. There are so many tools to fight injustices and you belong to a country which won its independence through non-violence in the face of aggressive British imperialism. Had Mahatma Gandhi also felt that terrorism was the only way to get the British out of India, we may have remained confined in the yoke of colonialism as yet.

Did Prophet Muhammad (SAW) retaliate against the woman in Makkah who used to throw garbage on him everyday whenever he passed by. On the contrary, he went to enquire about her health once she fell ill. The Prophet (SAW) earned her goodwill this way and won the heart of the people. It is your action and ‘seerat’ that speaks and not retaliation.

Dr Naik, communalism cannot be fought with communalism; the only weapon you have is secularism. Terrorism and extremism, which you justify, has to be fought with reasoning and logic and not by terror. India, our country is a glaring example of fighting terrorism for well over three decades and yet we maintained our unity, pluralism and identity.

No Zakir Naik. Stop this non sense. You are living in pluralistic society, a nation which has assimilated so many cultures and has given you the freedom of speech and even allowed your abominable Peace TV on air. Don’t let it fritter away with your concoction and later self denials. You also live in a world which has now grown into a global village so there are rooms for everyone, every ideology to prosper.

Islam has given sufficient space for all religion to exist as manifest in many verses. “To you is your religion and to me is mine” there is no compulsion in religion’ are some of the verses. Why do you want to narrow down to one by undertaking these mediocre and senseless debates?

When you talk about Yazeed, I am surprised at the parochial nature of your thought. How can a man who claims to be an expert on Quran and exegesis ever support a tyrant and oppressor like Yazid bin Muawaiya whose atrocities can put even Hitler to shame?

There are no sectarian conflicts that you and your supporters do not try to create. Why you and your supporters are letting loose a hell on the sectarian conflict without realizing that it was a Sunni aalim from Lucknow that declared Zakir Naik a kafir. Sadia Dehlvi, I understand, is not a Shia. Most of the revered ulema who have condemned Zakir Naik are all Sunnis. They are all angered over your remarks on Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and wasilah and also calling Yazeed with honour.

It is the ideology Zakir Naik you speak of that justifies terrorism and denigration of all religions except the one you follow. You threaten the Shias; you threaten all those who don’t adhere to your ideology by calling them Kafir and intimidating them by doling out wrong hadith or by spreading a message of hatred.

You are free to follow Yazid. But please don’t distort history. This is where the conflict lies. By justifying Yazid and calling him as RA, you are condoning the bloody massacre of Medina at the battle of Harra by the Yazidi forces and the defiling of the sanctity of the Holy Kaabah to which all Muslims bow their head in prayers. I am not talking of Karbala as your heart cannot accept the fact that Imam Husain saved Islam on that day from the clutches of oppression and digression.

It is right to give discourse and convince people towards religion but it is equally important to give the right one.

(S A H RIZVI is a senior journalist and a Former editor of Delhi Mid Day)

TOTAL COMMENTS:- &nbsp 225

Your publication is great good to both Muslims and non Muslims by spreading knowledge about the true spirit of Islam and various solutions on the present day problems. please put up a page where we, the readers, can put our comments on over all particular issue or your web page.

Regards

VK Jaiswal

By VINOD - 2/16/2015 7:42:28 AM

Did anybody heard the author saying "India, our country is a glaring example of fighting TERRORISM for well over three decades and yet we maintained our unity, pluralism and identity."we all can understand his compulsions in saying so.because if do not say that the hindu next door will not give a second thought before calling him a paki(a euphemism for Traitor)...:D.& to my paki friends dont glee at this fact,because you are the ones who have made lives miserable for us indian muslims.stop your kashmir rant & get some life. By objectiveanalysis - 10/21/2012 1:27:51 PM

Mohd. Yunus. I
would have much preferred you answered me by quoting a piece of poetry or song.
e.g: In translated form: “Give up prejudice O fool in the mirror house of this
world. It is your own picture that you deem ugly.”

You still have
not won. Your statement: "Quran is lame without Ahadith" purports to
undermine the Qur’an. On the other hand Ashraf Ali Thanvi statement “70 Ulooms are required
to understand the Quran.don't read the Quran by yourself else you will go
astray” virtually amount to youre say does not literally demean the Qur’an. But
you must be around 30 and quite outspoken and of a generation behind me, so I
give you the benefit of doubt.

Please
leave the website if you want to be a good Muslim. My son is around 30. The
only thing I have asked him since his early life is to be exemplary in conduct
and behaviour (like our Prophet – I don’t tell him this), hard and honestly and
try to excel in whatever lawful thing he is doing (essence of Qur’anic message
I don’t tell him) and to share the fruit of his labour with the others (again essence
of Qur’anic message I don’t tell him). Here is my belated standard Eid message now
forwarded to you as consolation prize for challenging us indefatigably: Hope fasting in the holy month
of Ramadan has brought us closer to God, made a better human being out of us,
cleansed our hearts of all negative feelings against others, prepared us to do
our best in all our lawful activities, professions and pursuits and to share
the fruit of our labour with others in the true spirit of greater jihad
following the example of our beloved Prophet.”

Bottom Line: Unless
you take me to be a fool or a fanatic, you must take my 14 centuries namesake you/
others demonize habitually as Prophet of God. What greater proof you need.

Have patience
please. Your problem – having topped all your exams and doing remarkably well
in the academy, you are not adequately rewarded. Don’t bother. Drive all
defilements from your mind (rujza fahjur). This clear ayah of merely two words
can make your life so happy and peaceful. But you want to speculate what agony
(some may think lustful desire) went through the mind of the Prophet that the divine
speech that did not mention the name of any single companion or wife of the Prophet
was compelled to record it (33:37). You are like one going to a beautiful
garden shining with galleries upon galleries of flowers. All you see is a ‘Nim’
plant and find fault in it for its lack of beauty or fragrance – without knowing
there must be something good in it.

If you do want to reply, please quote a befitting
line of poetry or song. By muhammad yunus (1) - 9/7/2012 11:43:37 PM

mohd. yunus. I appreciate your agony. Please have patience.

By muhammad yunus (1) - 9/7/2012 12:34:26 PM

Mr MY2: I am better a slave of Allah Kareem than an inexorable rebellion like you who is at war with Allah the Almighty. By Raihan Nezami - 9/7/2012 9:54:03 AM

Dear Raihan Nezami. A kettle calling the pot black. I am better as Munafiq, than a imbecile slave like you.

By mohd yunus - 9/7/2012 6:38:19 AM

Respected Muhammad yunus (1) saheb. I am commenting because it is due on me. You quoted as: "mohd. yunus. Again you are casting slur upon the Qur'an by stating
"Quran is lame without Ahadith" You are indeed behaving like the priest
of Cordova."Thanks a lot you are comparing me with priests of Cordova not priests of Islam.

Have some sense. You can cast slur on those who think the Quran can't be understood without Ahadith. Cast the slur on Ashraf Ali Thanvi who says 70 Ulooms are required to understand the Quran. Further, don't read the Quran by yourself else you will go astray.You are behaving like a bull behaves after seeing the red rag. Why are you so upset? Its mean, the noble Quran can't stand criticism. It can't survive without violence. Do you think violence means only to injure physically... I know the trick of Muslims abuse the critics instead to abuse those who are culprits.Those priest were trying to throw the yoke of Islam. You can say any good about the gifts of Islam showered on the Spain, but slavery is slavery.Muslims are slaves of Allah Kareem, they have sold their lives in exchange of Jannah Am I wrong? Is it not in the Quran? You feel pride in slavery. Why Allah needs slaves? I can fill pages on the Quran, only thing I lack in focus. If the Quran Kareem contain some spirituality, other holy books also have, If other books have violent verses, the Quran also have. Stop to making the people fool. By mohd yunus - 9/7/2012 6:35:43 AM

Mr.
MY2 Sb: You have been left with no logic, reason except vulgarity and abuses
against Muslims and Islam. You are no doubt a "Munafiq". Every Muslim
may or may not be righteous, God knows better but it is clear with this much
talk to you; you are, of course a devilish TERRORIST by thought (Astaghfirullah)
and a demon by acts like your mentor IBLEES (La houl wa la Quwatta illa
Billah). I remember a Persian line upon your idiocy, "Jawab-e-Jahilan
bashad khamoshi". Allah Hafiz. ' By Raihan Nezami - 9/6/2012 1:58:45 PM

mohd. yunus. Again you are casting slur upon the Qur'an by stating "Quran is lame without Ahadith" You are indeed behaving like the priest of Cordova. By muhammad yunus (1) - 9/6/2012 9:16:23 AM

@Raihan Nezami saheb. A beast lives in the hearts of every Muslim. Who is the hypocrite? Who practice double standards? These attributes are befitting for Muslims.Your mentor Allah and Shaitan are in the same plane.Instead of cursing your mentors Mr Bukhari, Mr Taimiya, Mr Hambal, Mr Shaafai, Mr Maalik, Mr Mehmood Ghaznavi your ghazi, you are cursing those who are showing mirror to you.Apne chehre dekh kar khaas log, Aaine ko hi bura kehne lage.So your Mohammed sallalah wo sallam was respecting Meccan's sentiments when He threw idols from Mecca.Kaan idhar se pakdo ya udhar se baat ek hi hai. World have seen repeatedly your merciful faces. You say few Muslims are terrorists, In fact every Muslim is a potential terrorist. Only it is a matter of time. How Muslims are compassionate, whole world is witnessing. By mohd yunus - 9/6/2012 9:06:18 AM

@Raihan Nezami. I can say but I don't want to drag him. I have enough material that can make your tail to catch fire.I have now strong opinion that Muslims, whether traditionalist or moderate are equally danger for humanity. One slaughters innocent animal and other ties the limbs. Then one skins the animal, other eats. By mohd yunus - 9/6/2012 8:38:37 AM

Mr MY(2): Yes, of course you can't speak in the case of Mr Raj, you are dumbstuck now as you have no excuse, logic and reason that is why you are hiding behind the Muslims who criticize Zakir Nayak, but none can stop anyone. So what, all have got freedom of expression from Allah Kareem and by the constitution of India. By Raihan Nezami - 9/6/2012 3:51:24 AM

Dear MY 2 Sb: I don't know about Dr Morrice Bucaiile but, of course, I know about your mentor Salaman Rushdie how grievously he tried to demonize the Quran Kareem and our Prophet (saw) that his ill-will fell upon his face and he had to run for his life. You are also a hypocrete and another Salaman Rushdie in the making rightly pointed out by Janab Mohammad Younus (1). You have forgotten every Momin belives; Quran Kareem is complete and perfected the Universe at its own, Ahadees are the practical and explanatory notes for it. By Raihan Nezami - 9/6/2012 3:27:56 AM

Dear Rehan NezamiThank you for introducing Mr Raj. If Dr Zakir Naik bringing Non-Muslims into the fold of Islam, why Muslims are criticizing him? I will not say single word for Mr Raj except good. Mr Rehan you are forgetting the noble Quran is lame without Ahadith, and your knowledge of the Mohammed the prophet is nothing without Ahadith.Should I bring a list of who left Islam? Your mentor Dr Morrice Bucaiile did not accept Islam, even after finding truth in the noble Quran? Why? Do you have an answer for this?He made Muslims fool took money and said good by to Islam. That is all. By mohd yunus - 9/6/2012 12:00:04 AM

Mr. MY2: Please go through the comment of Mr Raj who, being a Brahmin, listened to Allah's Book, no matter who is reciting or paraphrasing, was inspired by its message and accepted Islam. Now, like you, he is not talking and questioning about Hushan, Tabri or others; or asking the secrets of revelations of Allah's Book. By Raihan Nezami - 9/5/2012 11:44:38 AM